I finished the last Khitomer Conflict issue yesterday. I was pleased with the ending. I think it's my favorite arc so far in the new Trek books. Some of them have great beginnings and then the endings are fumbled or are less than satisfying. I thought the Khitomer Conflict was wrapped up pretty well.

The 4-issue format makes such a difference IMO. The first issue of the Vulcan's Fury story was really intriguing. It could have been really awesome if the story had been played out over two additional issues.

I was rather disappointed with this arc. "The Khitomer Conflict" didn't feel like TOS at all. Kirk has no agency in the story and the plot rather resolves itself rather than Kirk taking action to resolve it. The end is resolved by the intervention of Section 31. Kirk does nothing clever and reacts more than acts in the story. And the reveal of Sulu's sister wasn't really a twist. You could see it coming a parsec away.

I was rather disappointed with this arc. "The Khitomer Conflict" didn't feel like TOS at all. Kirk has no agency in the story and the plot rather resolves itself rather than Kirk taking action to resolve it. The end is resolved by the intervention of Section 31. Kirk does nothing clever and reacts more than acts in the story. And the reveal of Sulu's sister wasn't really a twist. You could see it coming a parsec away.

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It's true that Kirk was swept along by events. I'm hoping they'll build on it. Fool me once, shame on you sort of thing so that the next encounter will be a more even duel.

The notion that Kirk or Spock always have to save the day (or Scotty if it's a ship problem) is one of the things that dates TOS. However, I also don't like it when they have to 'force' characters to save the day e.g. Chekov is suddenly a transporter whiz and has to run all the way from the bridge to perform a task that really should be within the capabilities of any trained officer etc.

I do prefer it when a character is allowed to perform well in their chosen field instead of gifting that to someone else e.g. Spock carrying out code-breaking and communications repairs in TOS; Chapel assisting instead of leading bio-research etc. I suppose I also have to concede that if the characters never do anything outside that field they'll stagnate.

The notion that Kirk or Spock always have to save the day (or Scotty if it's a ship problem) is one of the things that dates TOS. However, I also don't like it when they have to 'force' characters to save the day e.g. Chekov is suddenly a transporter whiz and has to run all the way from the bridge to perform a task that really should be within the capabilities of any trained officer etc.

I do prefer it when a character is allowed to perform well in their chosen field instead of gifting that to someone else e.g. Spock carrying out code-breaking and communications repairs in TOS; Chapel assisting instead of leading bio-research etc. I suppose I also have to concede that if the characters never do anything outside that field they'll stagnate.

I hope the comic can maintain a better balance overall.

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Having Kirk or Spock resolve the main problem doesn't date TOS — it's good storytelling, plain and simple. You want the lead character to resolve the story's problem, take action. Or in an ensemble, you want to person who is the focus of the story resolve the problem and take action. For example, HILL STREET BLUES. You want a character, say Furillo, to resolve the problem in his particular storyline while you'd want Detective Belker to resolve the one in his.

There was potential to have two storylines with Kirk and Sulu, where Kirk takes action on the overall plot of the Klingon conflict while Sulu has to resolve the subplot of his sister's loyalty. But neither Kirk nor Sulu act, they react from beginning to end. Honestly, in retrospect, this arc feels more like a TNG episode than a TOS one.

i'm kinda interested in seeing how the upcoming: Parallel Lives arc plays out. I mean the Enterprise crew meeting a gender-swap version of themselves would probably be interesting and weird at the same time.